Is there anything more versatile than natural hair?
Aside from slim-fit black jeans and bacon, not too much.
And you know that when you want a traditional way to play with length, color, and style, extensions are a great tool in your style box! If you’re not about going to a stylist for more basic braidwork though, this feed in braid tutorial is going to have you working like a pro on your simpler styles without damaging your curls or sacrificing your edges!
What are feed in braids?
Simply put, they are extensions of hair you include in your cornrows by simply braiding them into your natural hair. They come in a variety of options, allowing you to find the one that will work best with your natural texture and current hair color.
Tips for Feed in Braids
• Don’t braid the hair too close to your hairline. This will cause excess pulling on your edges, and with the extra weight of the braiding hair added to that tightness, you may end up losing your own curls! Start about a half inch away from your hairline, and use silk bonnets and edge control to keep your look sleek.
Tension is not your friend.
• Practice makes perfect. Even if you’ve been braiding for a while, working with feed in braids takes time to master. Don’t expect to rival the experts on the first attempt. Remember, there’s a reason professionals charge what they do—these things take time and skill!
• Work with colorful hair when first learning this technique. Not only is it fun to take a flamboyant first step, it will also make it easier to see the different sections of hair so you get a better braid.
• When sectioning out the hair pieces, make sure you start with smaller braids and sections at your forehead and crown and then gradually work your way to thicker pieces on the way to the back of your head to ensure you get a natural looking result.
• Make sure the legs of the braid stay even throughout to ensure the most proportionate outcome. If you find one leg is getting smaller than the others as you reach the bottom, simply readjust the legs by ‘borowing’ from a longer strand to fix this issue.
Of course, the best way to learn something new is to have a great visual!
With step by step guidance on the process, you can master this technique a lot sooner. To learn how to master this look, check out this feed in braid tutorial:
